Sounds

Home Getting Started Layout Graphics Movies Charts & Tables Sounds Working with Slides Format Backgrounds Animation Slide Transitions Saving Options Text Boxes Printing LCD Projector

  Adding Sounds to PowerPoint                        
By choosing Insert > Movies and Sounds > Sound from File you can insert a sound into a PowerPoint slide.  The sound will look like a picture of a speaker after its inserted.  The speaker can be moved anywhere on the slide.

 !A Word of Caution!
When you insert a movie or sound into a slide it is only a link--links can be broken easily if you take your PowerPoint off the computer you saved it on.  For this reason it's a good idea to place your PowerPoint file, sounds, and movies into a File Folder before you insert them.  This way you can save the entire folder without breaking the links.

Afterwards, a window will open giving you the choice to play the sound automatically within the slideshow or only when you click it with the mouse. 

Adding Sound from a CD
From Insert on the toolbar, slide down to Movie and Sounds and then click on "Play CD Audio Track.

This will open a Movie and Sounds Options box that you can adjust which track you want to play and how long (what track you want to end on).
Tip: Holding the Shift key down when you insert the CD into the CD ROM prevents the CD from automatically starting up your music player, i.e. Media Player.		 After choosing if you want your sound to play automatically or not, a picture of a CD will appear.  You may drag this "CD" anywhere on or off your slide and it will still play.

 

Note: You must have the music CD in your CD ROM during the PowerPoint presentation for it to play.

 

By clicking the "Loop until stopped" box, a segment of music will play over and over.  This is very useful for taking a small sound in length and making it appear plays for the length that you determine.

Right clicking on the speaker and choosing "Custom Animation" will allow you to customize how the sound plays.  See animation for for information on using the customization tabs. 

If you want the music to play while you are continuing your slide show, you must click the "Continue slide show" button.  Otherwise, the presentation stops until the song is over.

 

By choosing the "After current slide" button, you can control how many slides the music will play through during the presentation.  

Adding Narration to a PowerPoint Presentation
To record a voice for a presentation, choose Insert > Movies and Sounds > Record Sound.

A microphone will need to be plugged in into the computer's sound card located on the back panel of the computer.  Look for another jack next to  where the speakers are plugged in.  There will usually be a picture of a microphone or the words "MIC."

Pressing the "red" button begins recording the "rectangle button" stops the recording, and the "right arrow" allows you to preview your recording.

When you click OK, the sound (speaker icon) is inserted into your slide.  You may slide the speaker anywhere you choose.  Right clicking on the speaker allows customizing the narrations play.

  By Right Clicking the Speaker Icon in the right corner of your display monitor's screen will allow you to adjust the level of sound recorded.  Select "Open Volume Controls" > "Options" > "Properties" and click the  Recording button and then OK.  You now can put a check mark under Microphone Balance (Select) and slide the the recording volume lever up or down with your mouse.  

Often the directions below for adjusting recording levels is unnecessary, unless you are getting no sound from your recording or the level is unsatisfactory.

 

If you are looking for a more customized recording of sound, Microsoft Windows has a Sound Recorder built into every version of Windows.

 

 

Sound can also be recorded from the Windows Sound Recorder
Navigate to your Windows Sound Recorder: Click the START BUTTON > slide up to Programs > Accessories >Entertainment > and click on Sound Recorder. 
Your path may be slightly different.

The Windows Sound Recorder works similar to PowerPoint's recorder.  After connecting at microphone and recording your up to 60 second sound file press the stop rectangle.  You must then save your file in a location of your choice (File Save  As > choose your location.  Once the sound is saved on your computer, you can then insert the sound into your presentation by Insert > Movies and Sounds > Sounds from a file.

Using the Edit and Effects tabs will allow you to further customize your sound recording.
Audacity If you really want to go out on a limb and customize sound files, you might consider downloading Audacity's FREE sound editor program.